When Armaan Singh Ahluwalia was a kid, he used to get disappointed every time he saw poor children begging at the traffic signal.

He used to enquire about the condition of slum children from his parents. He once told his mother, Dr Tarvinder Kaur Ahluwalia, that he wanted to open a school for the poor children.

At age 12, Armaan decided to do something for these underprivileged kids. In three years’ time, he started Apne – a school for the slum children.

The 15-year-old teenager started the four-room school on one of the floors of his house in Noida. The school is now being run from a three-floor building. The teenager loves teaching children.

“It feels like I get a fresh breeze of life when I’m in the company of these children,” said a passionate Armaan when we asked him about his noble mission.

Currently a student of Class 10, Armaan spends at least one hour daily with the poor children at the school which has an attendance of 15 to 20 students on a regular day. The number of students increases to 25 on weekends when Armaan spends five to six hours at the school.

He spends time with them on academics, sports and debating.

“I want all these students to become well-educated and become all-rounders, so as to improve their quality of life,” he says.

He also organises football matches, athletic-training sessions and theatre rehearsals for them. Last year, he had organised a football tournament for the underprivileged students.

It’s not easy for Armaan to find time for them. He spends little time on watching TV, playing electronic games or on other entertainment means.

“I have sacrificed these pleasures to get ultimate satisfaction and happiness, while being in the company of the children from slums, who too love me,” he says.

His mother helps Armaan in the cause. In fact, after meeting the poor children and listening to their stories of struggle, she resigned from her job in a multinational company two years ago and joined Armaan in running the school.

“I get much more satisfaction in bringing the smiles on the innocent faces of these underprivileged children who seemed to have lost faith in themselves, when they came first to the school,” she said.

Commenting on Armaan’s mission, she said that he is getting much better education by “serving the slum kids and understanding their stories of struggle, hunger and pain”.

“I am happy that he is learning the real meaning of being educated. I have no regrets in leaving my job and helping Armaan to start this school. It has given us much more happiness and understanding of the purpose of our lives. Perhaps this much better education we are providing to Armaan and I am doing a better job than serving in a MNC,” she said.

Apne provides free education to poor children.

“We provide stationery, uniform and food free-of-cost to the students, besides academic and sports facilities,” Armaan says.

Now, the school has started getting support from other families, who donate stationery, books and uniforms, besides providing monetary assistance. Taking inspiration from Armaan, his friends, too, have started celebrating their birthdays and special occasions with the children. They also help him in providing food, stationery and education to the children.

At Apne, every child has his own struggle to share.

“Now instead of working on construction sites, I come to the Apne. I can speak basic English and feel much more confident. I feel I am also amongst other children who go to school. Apne is my life. I will not work as labourer and will become Police Inspector when I grow up,” said 10-year-old Lochan, who comes to school daily.

“I like coming to Apne. Studying and playing with other children gives me lot of happiness. I use to work as a maid in a house. It gives a different feeling to come to school. Apne has not only given me a classroom, clothes, books and bags, but a new soul. I am a different girl now. I will become teacher and will never wash dishes at homes,” said 12-year-old Rakhi.

The children are confident that after getting education, they can find themselves in a better position in the society.